Battery-operated sound signal



Aug- 25, 1952 A. MERoLA BATTERY-QPERATED SOUND SIGNAL Filed April 20. 1950 Zmneutox' ANTHONY MEROLR @1% Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATEN'rf-oriice- Anthony Merola, Pittsburgh, Pa. u Application April 20, 1950, Serial No. 156,979 'l 1 Y l This invention relates to an improved audible signalling device, and the primary object thereof is to provide a signal of the character described, which is designed and intended for use by a person in an emergency for putting to ilight and for discouraging a prowler or intruder from carrying out his nefarious intent, and thus protect the user from bodily harm, robbery, and the like.

Further objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which will function to emit a continuous, shrill, piercing tone or sound for a comparatively short period of time, which is operated by an electric battery and cannot be manipulated to suspend the sound action until the `operating battery is completely deenergized, which can be quickly and conveniently manipulated to set ofi the sound action, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and efficient in its use, compact, positive in its action, and comparatively economical in its manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved signalling device in the inoperative position, with the casing being shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan View of the release element embodied in the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved signalling device comprises a cylindrical casing I having a closed top 2, which is provided with a plurality of comparativelylarge apertures 3 for permitting the escape of sound from the casing during the operation of the device.

A sound producing element, in the form of a motor-operated siren 4, is xed in position in the upper end of the casing I, and an electric battery 5 is removably mounted in the casing below and in spaced relation to the siren 4.

The lower end of the casing I is formed with interiorly disposed screw threads to engage a 1 Claim. (Cl. 177-7) bottom closure plugfG. l'The closure plug cannot be removed from the casing without the` aid of a screw driver or the like. A spiral spring 1 is mounted in the casing between the plug-26.1 and the lower end of the."Ibattery.v The normal action of the' spring'wte'nds toforce thebattery upwardly in the casing ltowardthe" siren V4.v

The top of the battery 51s provided with the usual battery contact: 8, and .an insulatedmotor contact 9 is suitablysuppcrted `in .the casing I, by a bracketflll, aboveandinxalignment 'with said batteryy contact. OneleadLII `oithe motor siren 4 is connected withithe` motor `'contact 9, and the other lead I2 `thereof'fis grounded in the battery case. TheV action` of the spring 1 will normally force the battery contact jinto contacting engagementwith Vthe motor contact 9, whereby the sound producing siren will be operated until the battery 5 is deenergized.

A switch mechanism I3, comprising an annular head I4 connected with a push button I5 by a stem I6, is shiftably supported in the horizontal position in the casing I by a guide bracket I1, which latter engages the stem I6 and is xed to the wall of the casing I. The push button I5 projects through an aperture I8 provided therefor in the casing, and a small spiral spring I9 is mounted on the stem I6 between the guide bracket I1 and the push button I5.

When the switch mechanism I 3 is in the maximum retracted outward position allowed by the abutment of the annular head I4 against the bracket I1, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the device is in the inoperative position. The annular head is constructed of insulating material'and the inner end thereof is disposed between the battery contact 8 and the motor 4contact 9, thereby separating said contacts 8 and 9 and preventing contacting engagement between the latter.

The action of the spring 1, in elevating the battery 5 in the casing I, will tend to clamp the engaged end of the annular head I4 between the contacts 8 and 9. Such action of the spring 1 in conjunction with the normal action of the spring I9 on the stem I6 will serve adequately to hold the switch mechanism I3 in the yinoperative or open position, until the latter ismanually forced to the closing or releasing position by a push against the projecting push button I5.

Suiiicient pressure against the push button I5 will shift' the switch mechanism I3 inwardly to force the engaged inner end of the annular head I4 from between the contacts '8 and 9, thereby allowing the latter to meet in contacting engagement with each other, due to the action of the spring 1, within the opening of the annular head. When the contacts are so engaged, the siren 4 will be operated continuously to emit sound until the battery 5 is deenergized, as the annular head cannot be replaced between the contacts 8 and S without withdrawing the battery from the casing because the engaging contacts are engaged within the openingin ,the .annularheadl i The improved# signalling device: may be ,constructed in any suitable size to adapt same for being carried in the hand or hand bag, or in an automobile, or for being conveniently stored at a" 'v readily accessible place in the home;l

The invention aims to provide an emergency device for the protection of the user that will emit a continuous, shrill sound which cannot be suspended until the battery is deenergized, unless the device is taken apart, and wherein such separa-h4 tion of the parts would take considerably longer thanithezeiectivezsoundoperatiomof v'the device, as ;tools.: arecrequiredtozeiect ;thef-separation of the :parts: v y From :the `foregoirlgfdescription, takennnconnection with thee. accompanying j drawing,` the construction andithe methodtofoperation ofthe invention'zwill be :readily-apparent vto th'oserskiiled y in the*art'tozwhich'itlieinventioirwill be ,readily apparenttothose fskilled ,initherart tocwhich `the invention appertains;.a.and1z it :.w-illf be f understood that" variations intheecontouryof 'thedevice @and inV the mechanicalemovements of the latterl may be resorted 'ito without Ydeparting;*from the prin.- ciple orffsacri'cingf'any advantages-,of :the linvenvention" asdeinedin' thecappended: claim.

What'Iclaim isti y v A'- signa-lling; device@confiprising;l a; casing i pro- 4 Y vided with an apertured top, a closure member engaged in the lower end of said casing, an electrically-operated sound producing element secured in said casing, an electric battery shiftably mounted in said casing, a pair of aligned electric contacts respectively connected with said element and with said battery, a spring mounted in said casing for shifting said battery for normally holdingrsaid contacts in contacting engagement With-.each other, an annular head constructed of insulating material shiftably mounted in said casing and having the inner end thereof disposed between said pair of contacts to prevent the operation of said element, and a push button projecting from said casing and being connected with sai-dhead operable for shifting said head from its engagement between said pair of contacts to allow the contacting of the latter to operate said element, said head surrounding said pair of contacts when disengaged from between the latter to prevent thezsuspension:of..the-ioperationofsaid:,e1e ment; y 1

ANTHGNY MEROLA;

REFERENCES-t' CITED,.-

The following lreferencesareof recordin' the sie. @funs patent:

1 UNITEDy STATES PATENTS.

Numberi Name Date f '763,575y Viggarsv June 28', 1904 1,129,786 v Bradshawl Feb; 23; 1915 1,965,946 Pincus etal July 10, 1934 EOREIGN j PATENTS Humber Coun-try, Datev 1 387,717 Germany- Jan- 3,- 1924A 

